Description
PROTEACEAE
“Green Tree-pincushion”
3-5m tall tree
Glabrous leaves
Yellow flowers in Winter and Summer
Flower heads are very show.
Branches are characteristically crooked and interlocking hence common name Kreupelhout
Should be sown in Autumn when the difference between day & night temperatures is about 12°C .
Germination Hints
Leucospermum require good day/night temperature fluctuation as we get from the end of our summer (end March) into autumn- warm days – cooler nights.
The nut seeded species germinate well if the seed is heated for a very short burst followed by rapid cooling as would happen as a fire sweeps through the natural environment. This serves to crack the hard seed coat allowing oxygen and moisture to enter and the endosperm to germinate.
Pre-treatment …
- Place seed in cold room 2 weeks prior to sowing.
- Soak seed in water for 24 hours to soften the seed coat.
- Remove the elaisome covering (the white plastic-like coating).Underneath the seed is black. You can rub the elaisome off with your fingers or place in a collecting bag and rub. The seed is so hard you will not damage it.
- Mix up the following treatment… 400ml Hydrogen Peroxide 1% solution, 800ml water, 5ml smoke water (stored in milk containers in the cold room!)
- Place seeds in this solution for 24 hours. You will see that the seeds that previously floated now sink.
- Rinse the seeds with water, just before ready to sow, a day or two.
- Pat dry and dust with fungicide
Sow the seeds as soon as possible.
Rather than throw away seeds that do not float plant them they sometimes still germinate.